Business Headline

Building Brampton’s Life Sciences Sector
Monday, Oct 24 2016, 03:00

​Brampton aspires to be a key player in the human and health sciences cluster that has emerged in the Greater Toronto Area.

Among Canada’s fastest growing cities and ideally situated amidst major transportation corridors (both land and air), Brampton has a solid foundation in the Human Health and Sciences, home to some 250 biotechnology firms and another 550 that provide support for the sector. The sector has grown by 50 per cent in the city over the past decade, supporting 6,700 workers. But there is room to grow, and Brampton is pushing hard to host the next wave of innovation.

“Brampton is already home to one of Canada’s most innovative Human Health and Sciences clusters,” said Brampton Mayor Linda Jeffrey. “We are pushing the boundaries with new treatments and cutting edge research designed to help people around the world live longer, healthier lives.”

Brampton launched a video showcasing its strong Human Health and Sciences sector, putting a spotlight on everything from its location, accessibility, space for growth and, of course, the existing life sciences companies — like Medtronic, Canadian Blood Services, Dynacare, Stericycle Canada and Taro Pharmaceuticals — with a Brampton address.

As the video pans over Brampton and highlights its strengths in Human and Health Sciences, it says: “Brampton is at the crossroads of dynamic growth and expansion. The alignment of intellectual capital, government vision and growth opportunities are making the city an enviable destination for the human health and sciences business.”

Brampton is also pushing the boundaries on innovative health care. The Brampton Civic Hospital, part of the William Osler Health System, recently celebrated two years since it began collecting public cord blood, used for stem cell treatments. It’s the only community hospital in Canada — and the only hospital in the Greater Toronto Area — selected to serve as a collection site for the Canadian Blood Services Cord Blood Bank. The city will also soon open the Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated for Health and Wellness and the ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development.